Despite suffering from high fever and stomach cramps, Emirati multiple motocross champion Mohammed Balooshi produced a fighting display at the Oilibya Rally Morocco, climbing another six positions in the overall classification.

Balooshi rode with a steady and strong pace, positioning his KTM 450 rally Replica in 12th in the overall results.

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What seems to be a case of food poisoning or a virus, has affected many of the competitors in Zagora and while many of them decided to step down from the competition and take the time to recover, Balooshi carried on despite suffering from high fever and stomach ache.

“Many of us fell pretty ill in the last 36 hours but I decided to race anyways and do my best to complete the Leg,” he said.

“I felt sick all day, and then it got worse when I had a harsh fall at 155kmph. I could not focus and I had only done half of the stage but I found my strength and kept it together… I kept repeating to myself I have to finish at any cost.”

After another 470kms completed yesterday and with more than 10h16minutes of Moroccan desert under the belt, Balooshi sits only three seconds behind French rider Xavier De Soultrait.

For day 4 of the race, competitors will run the longest leg of this demanding event for 640kms of beautiful valleys where the main complication will be the navigation, which has been anticipated to be one of the most difficult in the entire championship. The rally caravan will then reach the world famous city of Agadir.